Working in Retirement in an ‘Encore Career’

Experts labeled the birth of more than 76 million babies between 1946 and 1964 the “baby boom.”[i] It was America’s largest generation, although Millennials are on the verge of overtaking boomers.[ii] More than 65 million are still living today with about 10,000 retiring per day.[iii] The youngest will turn 67, full retirement age, in 2031, when the boomer population is projected to drop to 58.2 million.

What will they be doing?

Most of them will continue working.[iv] In fact, nearly four-fifths of retirees will stay on the job or seek other employment to supplement their retirement income.

More than 60% of people in the United States who have retired said they retired too soon.[v]

Unlike members of previous generations, baby boomers have animated the word “encore.” Coined by author Marc Freedman, the term “encore career” describes a person’s second life career in later years.[vii]

Beyond the monetary advantages, boomers find encore careers provide an outlet to express the passion they’ve gained throughout their professional lives. Connected to a community, working retirees gain a sense of engagement and purpose in their later years.

Boomers also gravitate to a variety of mostly help-related professions, such as teaching, consulting or working for nonprofits. Others pursue work in creative fields, such as music, painting, or drama.

Looking for work?

If you’re interested in pursuing an encore career, here are some tips to help you get started:

Start by writing down your goals and interests and think about how you could turn them into satisfying work.

Take classes at your local college or lifelong learning center to develop new skills.

Think about how much you’d like to work and what kind of environment would interest you.

Consider taking a personality assessment and work competency test to learn about your strengths.

Look around for job opportunities and let friends, family, and others in your network know that you’re looking.